4310-94P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact
Report (EIR)/Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the
improvement of the Salton Sea, California and notice of
public scoping meetings.

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act
of 1969, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and the
Salton Sea Authority (Authority), State of California, in
accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act,
will be preparing an EIR/EIS document to assess the impacts
of alternative solutions for restoring the Salton Sea (Sea)
located in Riverside and Imperial Counties, California.
DATES: Written comments on the scoping issues will be
accepted until September 30, 1998. Public scoping meetings
will be held at the following locations:

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public Law 102-575, 1992,
directs the Secretary of the Interior to "conduct a research
project for the development of a method or combination of
methods to reduce and control salinity, provide endangered
species habitat, enhance fisheries, and protect human
recreational values . . . in the area of the Salton Sea . . ."
In addition to this authority, Reclamation and the
Authority have entered into an agreement, Salton Sea
Planning and Research Program, to jointly study problems
associated with the Sea.

The Authority is a public agency formed under the
provisions of Articles I and II, Chapter 5, Division 7,
Title 1 of the Government Code of the State of California
for the purpose of "directing and coordinating actions
relating to improvement of water quality and stabilization
of water elevation and to enhance recreational and economic
development potential of the Sea and other beneficial uses,
recognizing the importance of the Sea for the continuation
of the dynamic agricultural economy of Imperial and
Riverside Counties."

The Sea is a hypersaline lake located in a closed basin
of the southern California desert; it is the largest body of
water within California. The Sea was initially formed in
1905-1907 by flooding on the Colorado River which breached
an irrigation control structure allowing virtually the full
flow of river water into the Salton Basin. The Sea's
current existence is primarily due to agricultural drainage
from the Imperial, Coachella, and Mexicali Valleys; smaller
volumes of municipal effluent and storm water runoff also
flow to the Sea.

The Sea is home to a highly eutrophic ecosystem and a
productive sport fishery. The Sea, and wetlands along its
shoreline, are a critical part of the Pacific flyway
providing seasonal and migratory habitat to millions of
birds of varying species. Several endangered species,
including the desert pupfish, Yuma clapper rail, brown
pelican, peregrine falcon, and bald eagle, inhabit the Sea
and/or adjacent habitats.

The Sea ecosystem is under stress. Increasing
salinity, currently about 43 parts per thousand, is
threatening the reproductive ability of some parts of the
biota. Other potential issues include high nutrient
loading, heavy metals, DDT residues, and discharges of
agricultural chemicals to irrigation drains leading to the
Sea. At the scoping meetings, participants will be
requested to identify other potentially significant issues
as well as potential alternative solutions.

The purpose of the project is to identify a plan that
improves the human environment and ecological conditions of
the Sea. Based on past studies, various alternatives to
control salinity in the Sea have been investigated. These
alternatives include diked impoundments, pump-out, a
combination of impoundment and pump-out alternatives, and
salt removal from inflow to the Sea. Other options may
surface during the scoping process. Opportunities to
address other environmental issues facing the Sea, including
issues related to wildlife resources, will be investigated
and considered for implementation as we increase our
understanding of the Sea's ecology.

The objective of this effort is to evaluate
alternatives (1) capable of maintaining the Sea as a
reservoir of agricultural drainage, (2) provide a safe,
productive environment for resident and migratory birds and
endangered species, (3) restore recreational uses, (4)
maintain a viable sport fishery, and (5) identify
opportunities for economic development.

The analysis will address the current issues of (1)
accumulation and concentration of salts, nutrients, and
organic compounds and other constituents, (2) water
elevation stabilization, (3) reduced recreational use of the
Sea, and (4) reduced ecological values. The environmental
document will also address any Indian Trust Assets (ITA) of
the Torres-Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians and assets of
any other Tribe(s).

Environmental and engineering baseline data have been
collected over the past several years and the project is now
ready to move forward under the CEQA/NEPA process. The
Secretary of the Interior has identified this as a high
priority project and action is being expedited due to the
worsening conditions at the Sea. Over 200,000 birds have
died at the Sea over the past six years as a result of the
current conditions. Reclamation and the Authority will be
working closely with interested Congressional members and
other stakeholders to develop possible solutions.

A Research Management Committee (Committee) has been
established of high-level managers from the U.S. Department
of the Interior, Authority, State of California, and the
Torres-Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians. This Committee
makes funding and other relevant decisions regarding science
to be funded to support the CEQA/NEPA process. A Science
Subcommittee (Subcommittee) has been established to serve as
an advisory committee to provide scientific evaluations and
recommendations to the Committee. The Subcommittee
functions as a coordinated body to determine information
gaps, identify science/information needs, and provide the
Committee with recommendations for funding priorities
regarding the science activities.

The draft EIR/EIS is expected to be completed by the
end of December 1999.